Six games were on the NBA schedule on Monday night, highlighted by Tyrese Maxey scoring 40 points in the Philadelphia 76ers’ 121-108 win in Charlotte, Cade Cunningham putting up a triple-double in a 125-124 overtime win against the Miami Heat, and James Harden going for 41 (24 in the first quarter) as the Los Angeles Clippers crushed the Utah Jazz 144-107.
In the 13-point 76er win, Maxey was 12-for-28 and 6-for-12 from deep, with 5 rebounds and 5 assists. He also made 10-of-13 free-throws. It was the second 40-point game of the season for the 24-year-old, who scored 45 against the Indiana Pacers back on October 27 in an overtime victory. Maxey is 12th in the league in scoring at 25.1 points per game.
Paul George had a season-high 33 points along with 8 assists and 5 rebounds (13-for-20, 6-for-9) to help Maxey in the win. The 76ers, without Joel Embiid for at least one week with a nasak fracture and star rookie Jared McCain indefinitely with a meniscus tear, need both Maxey and George to carry the scoring burden. It helps when a guy like Kelly Oubre Jr. has a quality night, as he did on Monday going 7-for-11 for 19 points and 9 rebounds for the 8-16 76ers.
Miles Bridges led the way for the 7-19 Hornets with 24 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists on 10-for-19 shooting, while big man Nick Richards was 7-for-9 off the bench for 19 points and 5 rebounds. Lamelo Ball struggled shooting, just 5-for-15, but did register a double-double of 15 points and 11 assists.
The Pistons led by 16 going into the fourth quarter, but the Heat, behind 13 fourth quarter points from Tyler Herro (who hit the game-tying triple with five seconds left) forced overtime, where the Pistons would comeback from a 122-114 deficit thanks to Tim Hardaway Jr. (5-for-10 from deep, 16 points) who hit three straight from downtown on his personal 9-0 scoring run. Herro (23 points, 9-for-25, 4-for-17 3PT) missed a three as time wound down. Jimmy Butler put up a monster triple-double in the loss (35 points, 19 rebounds, 10 assists on 12-for-21) while Cade Cunningham did the same for his team in the win (20 points, 18 assists, 11 rebounds, 7-for-17, 3-for-8). Cunningham is third in the NBA in assists at 9.7, and Monday’s effort was his sixth triple-double of the season. Malik Beasley scored a team-high 28 on 7-for-13 from downtown, while Ausar Thompson was 8-for-14 from the field and put up 19 points and 9 rebounds. Jalen Duren pulled down 16 rebounds. With the loss, the Heat are now 13-11 while the Pistons improved to 11-16.
In Los Angeles, James Harden’s 41 (24 in the first half) was the catalyst for the Clippers’ big 144-107 rout of the Utah Jazz.
Harden was 12-for-14 from the free-throw line, 11-for-17 from the field and 7-for-11 from downtown, with 6 assists. He is averaging 22.1 points, 8.3 assists (7th in the league), and 6.5 rebounds in a season that has been a resurgence for him. It was the second highest point total of the season, as he scored 43 points on November 27 against the Washington Wizards. With Kawhi Leonard still out due to injury and Paul George now out east, Harden has taken on the initiator, leadership role that he had in Houston and is succeeding. The Clippers are 15-12 on the year.
The Jazz, meanwhile, dropped to 5-20 with the loss. Jordan Clarkson had a game-high 20 for the team off the bench, going 6-for-13 in 23 minutes. Lauri Markkanen led the starters with 17 points (5-for-9, 3-for-6) and 5 rebounds, while Collin Sexton put up 15 points on 7-for-10.
Around the League
Bulls 122 (12-15)
Raptors 121 (7-20)
Vucevic: 24 PTS, 5 REB, 3 AST (10-for-17 FG)
White: 19 PTS, 5 AST (5-for-15 FG)
Barrett: 32 PTS, 9 AST, 5 REB (11-for-24 FG, 8-for-9 FT)
Dick: 27 PTS, 6 REB (9-for-20 FG, 3-for-9 3PT)
CHI: 42 3rd quarter points; won 4 of last 6
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Cavaliers 130 (23-4)
Nets 101 (10-16)
Mobley: 21 PTS, 5 REB (7-for-9 FG)
LeVert: 19 PTS, 4 AST (6-for-9 3PT) off bench
Mitchell: 18 PTS, 5 AST (6-for-14 FG)
Johnson: 22 PTS, 5 AST (5-for-10 FG, 3-for-6 3PT)
Sharpe: 15 PTS, 7 REB off bench
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Nuggets 130 (14-10)
Kings 129 (13-14)
Murray: 28 PTS, 6 AST (11-for-26 FG)
Gordon: 24 PTS, 7 REB (9-for-14 FG)
Jokic: 20 PTS, 14 REB, 13 AST (8-for-19 FG)
Westbrook: 18 PTS, 10 AST, 9 REB (8-for-13 FG)
Fox: 29 PTS, 7 AST, 5 REB (11-for-24 FG)
Sabonis: 28 PTS, 14 REB, 6 AST (12-for-20 FG)
Monk: 25 PTS, 10 AST, 6 REB (9-for-19 FG, 4-for-10 3PT)
DEN: Led 41-24 after 1st quarter; outscored 82-55 over 2nd and 3rd quarters
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NBA Cup Final: 8:30 p.m. on ABC
The NBA Cup Final is on Tuesday night between the Oklahoma City Thunder (20-5, 1st in the western conference) and Milwaukee Bucks (14-11, 5th in the eastern conference). The NBA has given the Cup a true NBA Finals feel and appeal, with a Media Day on Monday and of course, being in Las Vegas, all eyes are on the Cup as it attracts people to the area and helps business.
The game itself should be a great one, with star power on both sides. The well-rounded Thunder though, and their youth, should be enough to get the job done.
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